March 2, 2017 4 Adar 5777

Parshat Terumah

Candle Lighting 6:08 p.m.
"There's No Place Like Akiba..."

Where will you be March 8? Come join our 5th grade students as they follow the yellow brick road and perform "The Wizard of Oz" in Hebrew! Yes, in Hebrew!
 
Did you know that it has been scientifically proven that speaking and learning a second language improves cognitive skills and overall brain function? Not only does learning a second language enhance performance in other academic areas such as reading comprehension, vocabulary, and standardized testing, learning a second language delays the onset of  dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

As a culmination of our lower school Hebrew curriculum, students in 5th grade showcase their second language learning through on-stage performances gaining the added benefits of drama: building confidence, helping concentration, supporting numeracy skills, assisting physical development, and developing emotional intelligence and communication skills.
If you have not seen one of the 5th grade plays for yourself, you are in for quite an experience! If you have...you have never seen one quite like this!

L'Shalom,

Jennifer LeVine
Lower School Principal

 

UPCOMING EVENTS
  • Today: Please pick up Eretz Akiba auction items in Lisa Morgan's office in the admin. building. 
  • March 6-10: Spirit Week, check Tuesday's Akiba 411 for dress-up day info. 
  • March 9 : Early dismissal for middle school at 3:30 p.m.
  • March 13 : Early dismissal for Early Childhood Program at 11:30 a.m.; K-8, noon. Teacher in-service.
  • March 10-24:  The area's best middle school artists show off their work at Akiba during the Private School Art Invitational. Stop by to see all the great art! M-F/8 a.m.-5 p.m./main atrium
  • Thursdays, 8:30 a.m., Boardroom: Rabbi Rackovsky's Pathways in the Parsha.



Congrats to Ari Blumberg who is celebrating his bar mitzvah this week.

Mazel tov to parents Shira and Mordecai Langer, and Akiba students Ronni and Tahel, on the birth of a baby boy. Congrats to grandparents Varda and Dov Treuhaft, and Chava and Rabbi Pinchas Langer.  

Mazel tov to Michal and Amir Ohana, and Akiba student Eitan, on the birth of a baby boy.


ADORING ADAR

K-8th celebrates the Hebrew month of Adar, a special month for so many reasons. One is that the rabbis in the Talmud tell us to increase our joy and gratitude. Another is that the story Purim, which occurs during Adar, shows how the Jews rose above Haman's plot to destroy them. 


TEETH TALK 

Nurse Susan arranged for kindergarten and Chaverim to chat with dental hygienists so they could learn more about nutrition, their teeth and dental health.


SKILLS ON DISPLAY

2nd grade's Hebrew & Bible skills are so sharp! Not to mention their singing, acting and directing. Check out the ceremony where students receive their own Chumash.

 

PREPPING FOR PURIM

Once a month, 8th graders get together for "It's  A Girl Thing," where they build relationships with each other while learning with  Judaics teacher Miriam Tannenbaum.


MAKING WORDS COME ALIVE

3rd graders create books with examples of figurative language
 

ARTISTS

Across campus, students put on their creative hats, drawing, painting and collaborating on projects. 
 

TEST TUBE TEACHERS

8th grade explores the density of different liquids.
 


PRESCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS

How do you teach young toddlers very important executive function skills (crucial to later learning), as well as how to manage their frustration? With a colander, feathers, pipettes, leather, Mylar, plastic strings, chopsticks, a shoelace, and assorted wood sticks. Teenoki Alef was challenged to fit these various items into the tiny holes of a colander and their problem solving skills were working full force!













To kick off the month of Adar, a time to bring extra joy into our lives, we welcomed accordionist Eli Davidsohn to sing Purim songs with us. The students used musical instruments and groggers, and donned silly dress-up costumes. 


To add even more joy to the month of Adar, students had a great time tie-dying t-shirts this week. The children used spray bottles and squeeze bottles to get their colors just right! 


 
Thank you to all the Akiba current and past parents, grandparents, faculty, staff, alumni and friends who have generously supported the 2016-17 Akiba Fund. 


COMMUNITY NOTICES

 



  

Akiba Academy provides a superior general and Judaic education to children in preschool through eighth grade. As a Modern Orthodox school, Akiba Academy develops ethical and responsible members of the Jewish people and American society, knowledgeable about and committed to their Jewish heritage and the State of Israel. For more information about Akiba contact  info@akibaacademy.org .